💔 Would you share a home with your ex? Why couples are doing just that.

Stat Of The Day

1.6 Billion

That’s how many times people streamed "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus, the year’s most listened to song according to "Spotify Wrapped." Every year for its nearly 600 million users, Spotify packages up their listening history when it comes to artists, songs and podcasts. Shoutout to the top fans of the HerMoney Podcast and How She Does It!

This Week In Your Wallet

It’s #EngagementSeason, and if you’re looking to save on sparkle, you and your partner might be considering a lab grown diamond, as man made diamonds have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. CNBC reports that by 2024, the market for them is expected to be valued at around $18 billion. Lab grown diamonds can be up to 50% less than a real rock…but if you’re thinking about buying one, there are things you should know–namely that they probably won’t have any resale value.

The holiday shopping season has brought with it a new crop of scams, including fake websites pretending to be those of big name brands. As Susan Tompor writes for USA Today, scammers are creating fake sites that look like those of retailers like Lululemon and promoting their "deals" (often 90% off) on social media. "On Cyber Monday, I placed an order for a holiday gift at Talbots," Tompor shares. "The regular website was promoting 50% off and free shipping that day. And amazingly, not all that long afterwards on Monday, I saw an ad pop up in my Facebook feed for 90% off at Talbots. I knew it had to be a scam, given earlier alerts." More on what you need to know here, including a warning about bogus "discreet shipping" fees.

Just how tough is the housing market these days? So tough that couples who have called it quits are still living together. This week, The Wall Street Journal reports that mortgage rates over 7% coupled with higher than normal home prices are putting partners who have separated in the strange predicament of wanting to move on…but not being financially able to. "Estranged couples stuck together are trying to create boundaries," writes reporter Clare Ansberry. "Husband on the second floor. Wife on the first. They assign his and her cupboards in the kitchen, schedule laundry time and text whereabouts as needed." For those who are making it work, a few things are key, including private spaces for each adult, separate accounts for non-household expenses and a clearly defined childcare schedule.

Things That Save You Money

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Brrr..for many of us, cold weather is here…and so are higher home heating bills. One of the best ways to save is lowering your thermostat when you’re away from home or asleep (smart thermostats are great for this!). According to the Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10% per year on heating by turning your thermostat down 7°-10°F from its normal setting for 8 hours per day.

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A tip for couples embarking on wedding planning from HerMoney reader Candie: "Have a very small wedding cake made for the cutting photos. Serve slices of sheet cake to guests."

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Love Pottery Barn but hate the price? Check out the "Open Box Outlet" for Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids. That’s where the retailer sells items shoppers have returned. There are a couple of catches–everything is "as-is" and there aren’t any returns…though those who shop the sites say more often than not, items are in like new condition.

How Are You Financing Your Life?

How is your budget looking these days? A big part of our budget isn’t necessarily how we save — it’s how we spend. Think about it: A 29% APR credit card that you can’t pay off every month is going to cost you far more than pay-over-time deals often found at your favorite retailers. (think: Best Buy or Apple.) Given that credit card balances just surpassed a horrifying new milestone of $1 trillion (yes, trillion) in this country, it’s time we ALL started spending smarter. But how? HerMoney CEO Jean Chatzky sat down with Christine Roberts, President of Citizens Pay, to find out. You can listen to their full conversation, or check out some of our favorite parts of their discussion here.**

Uncertainty And Your Investments With Maggie Jackson

"The productive nature of uncertainty is closely tied to adaptability, flexibility, creativity, and resilience"

These days, things feel more uncertain than ever. Take the economy, for example. By almost any objective measure, we’re doing much better economically than we were nearly three years ago, but the vibes are… off.

Maggie Jackson is the author of Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure. This week, she joins host Jean Chatzky on the HerMoney Podcast* to talk about why making hard decisions when we really don’t know the outcome is actually really good for our brains. "The productive nature of uncertainty is closely tied to adaptability, flexibility, creativity, and resilience," Jackson says. "And those are skills that we need in times of flux when things are changing. So our human uncertainty which we denigrate and undervalue is actually a path to human flourishing."

Uncertainty is also incredibly important when we’re deciding where and how to invest our money. We know that this is especially difficult for women because there are no "perfect" or exact answers. However, Jackson says that’s where women have an advantage: "Women like being comprehensive, seeing the problem from multiple angles and weighing their options. So the natural tendency on the part of many of us to research more or to get more information, is actually an asset." Curious about the advantages of practicing more uncertainty in your day-to-day life? Listen to Jackson’s advice, here.

Listen Now

The HerMoney Podcast is made possible by Edelman Financial Engines

Ask Jean

This week’s question comes from Annette. She writes: What free credit report companies give all 3 credit bureau reports?

Great question, Annette–and there’s only one answer…AnnualCreditReport.com. There are many sites that will try and get you to pay for your credit report. Do not do that…I repeat, do not do that. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only source for free credit reports and is authorized by federal law. On the site, you can access reports from three of the largest credit bureaus in the U.S., including Equifax, Experian and Transunion, once per-week at no cost.

Submit your questions to Jean here.

Giving Back…And Making It Count

Proudly sponsored by

According to Giving USA, charities took a major hit last year, with Americans donating the lowest percentage of funds since 1995.

Soraya Alexander, Chief Operating Officer at GoFundMe and president of Classy says the reason for the decline is that people by and large feel powerless to make change."They feel anguish for these communities, they feel heartbroken for what these individuals are losing and they want to show up and help," she tells Karen Finerman on the How She Does It Podcast, proudly supported by iShares. "But they’re saying, ‘I don’t see myself in these huge, scaled, non-profit response efforts, and so I just may as well not give."

If you skipped #GivingTuesday but are still feeling the pull to support those in need this holiday season, Alexander has some advice: Before you give, take the time to engage with a cause — whether that’s via volunteering or doing research online — and then decide where your dollars or time will have the most impact.

How She Does It is proudly sponsored by iShares

More For You To ♥

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Only 35% of Americans work with a financial professional. What’s holding them back? There’s a financial professional out there who can help you meet all your money goals. First, figure out your needs. Then, find the right financial professional that fits. Our CEO Jean Chatzky met with Michael Kitces, "Chief Financial Planning Nerd" at Kitces.com, on this Your Money Map with The Alliance For Lifetime Income to get you everything you need to know.**

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*The HerMoney podcast is proudly sponsored by Edelman Financial Engines. Unlock your wealth potential with our sophisticated wealth planning. Continue your journey at EdelmanFinancialEngines.com. Sponsored by Edelman Financial Engines – Modern wealth planning. All advisory services offered through Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C. (FEA), a federally registered investment advisor. Results are not guaranteed. AM2594439.

HerMoney is not a client, agent, representative or affiliate of EFE.Edelman Financial Engines ("EFE") is a sponsor of the "HerMoney with Jean Chatzky Podcast," created by HerMoney Media. Inc. ("HerMoney") and provides cash compensation to HerMoney Media. HerMoney receives a sponsorship fee from Edelman Financial Engines depending on the number of podcast downloads, as measured by the end of the calendar year. The sponsorship fee is paid on a quarterly basis each year. In turn, HerMoney also provides promotional deliverables regarding EFE on the HerMoney podcast, newsletter, and social media channels. Due to this sponsorship arrangement, HerMoney has an incentive to endorse EFE and its services.

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